Ederson sets sights on Champions League success with City

New Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson has set his sights on winning the Premier League and Champions League after completing his £35million move from Benfica.

The 23-year-old became Pep Guardiola’s second signing of the summer after negotiations over the severance of his third-party ownership agreement with former club Rio Ave and Jorge Mendes’ agency Gestifute were finalised.

Ederson is likely to start next campaign as Guardiola’s first choice after an unconvincing maiden season from Claudio Bravo and the Brazilian has already set his sights high.

“I like everything about Manchester City. I have always had the dream to play in English football and now I’m going to make it true,” he told mancity.com after signing a six-year contract.

“With Pep Guardiola, City are growing more and more. He is putting in place a young team for the future. Those were important factors in making my decision.

“As for my ambitions with City, I want to win the Premier League and the Champions League. Those are my two main goals in this shirt.”

City have got two major bits of business done early this summer, with Ederson following the arrival of £43million playmaker Bernardo Silva from Monaco.

Press Association Sport understands City are paying Benfica 40million euros for Ederson, therefore technically still making Gianluigi Buffon’s transfer from Parma to Juventus – 51 million euros in 2001 – the most expensive for a goalkeeper. The exchange rate at the time equated the fee to £32.6million.

Ederson, who has yet to win an international cap, is Guardiola’s second attempt at finding a goalkeeper who both fits his requirements in terms of playing style and can handle the Premier League.

Bravo’s move from Barcelona last season for £15.4million proved less than successful with a number of the 34-year-old’s performances coming in for criticism.

While the Chile international may have struggled to adjust to English football Ederson is convinced he can make the step up.

The Brazilian has all the qualities Guardiola wants in a goalkeeper: good distribution, a willingness to cover the space outside his penalty area, quick reflexes and good at close-range shot-stopping.
“I have always watched it on TV,” he said of English football.

“My impression is that it is a very intense game, box-to-box. The grounds are always full and the stadiums are nice. This is a very captivating football. The competition here would motivate any player. I’m ready, I’m always ready.

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Costa: Conte says I have no future at Chelsea

Chelsea striker Diego Costa claims Antonio Conte has told him he is not part of his plans at Chelsea.

The 26-year-old, who scored 26 goals in 46 games for the Premier League champions last season, says Conte sent him a text message informing him of his fate and Costa is now contemplating his future away from Stamford Bridge.

Speaking to reporters after Spain’s 2-2 draw with Colombia on Wednesday night, Costa said: “I’m a Chelsea player, but they do not want me there. Antonio Conte has told me by message that I do not follow at Chelsea and that’s it. Conte said he did not count on me for next season.

Diego Costa confirms that Antonio Conte doesn't want him at Chelsea next season. Conte has sent him a message. #chelsea#cfc

“It’s a shame, I’ve already forwarded the message to Chelsea people to decide. But it is clear that the coach does not count on me and does not want me there. You have to find a team.”

An exit from Chelsea has long been on the cards for Costa, who has been the reported subject of a money-spinning offer from a Chinese Super League club.

The striker has his heart set on a return to Atletico Madrid, though that move would be delayed due to the Spanish club’s transfer embargo.

“It would be nice to return to Atletico, but it is difficult to be four-five months without playing,” Costa added in quotes reported by Marca. “Being five months without playing? I do not know, it’s complicated, but people know that I love Atletico a lot and that I love living in Madrid.

Don't be surprised if Costa to Atletico Madrid rumours spark a fresh round of Griezmann to Man United stories all over again #CFC#MUFC

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He’s perhaps yet to fully appreciate it, but life at Manchester United changed for Ander Herrera on April 16 this year.

Before taking on Chelsea at Old Trafford, the Basque midfielder’s energy and craft had certainly established himself as a growing favourite among fans but in successfully neutering Eden Hazard, while laying on an assist and scoring the second in a 2-0 victory, propelled him front and centre in Jose Mourinho’s evolution of the Red Devils.

Herrera never left the Belgian’s side, forcing him to play with his back constantly to goal, preventing him from turning and rendering his dribbling ineffective.

Paradoxically, it affected his previous calling cards, his passing was wayward as Mourinho’s instructions led him to attempting a series of long balls. But Old Trafford didn’t care. Hazard was an afterthought in a game that was arguably United’s performance of the season.

Subsequently, Herrera now represents the man who channels the fan on the field. His energy and workrate infectious, and the right amount of devilment to get the blood racing. For Herrera, it was another day at the office.

“It was Mourinho’s plan more than me,” the 27-year-old said. “We knew Hazard is Chelsea’s best player, the most difficult to mark – their most dangerous player. I was the one who was taking care of him.

“I just tried to not let him receive the ball easily; to make the game difficult for him. But when we had the ball I tried to play as well, that’s why I scored and got an assist.

“For me, Hazard is the best player in the Premier League and one of the best of the world and it was a good game for me.”

Post-Ferguson, United have gone through significant changes. With little coherence in strategy in the dugout and transfer market, they have lacked identity.

In an increasingly distant football landscape, supporters need a player to get behind on a more personal level. And while Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored the goals to inspire a certain section of the fanbase, Herrera has emerged as one of the few imported talents to truly get Manchester United.

Like Eric Cantona, Peter Schmeichel and Patrice Evra before him, Herrera exudes an understanding of what’s required to be a Red Devil. With extra emphasis on the latter.

“I have been really happy at United since the first day. The only thing I can do is to give everything every game and every minute of the time I am on the pitch,” he adds, speaking last week at the launch of the adidas Nemeziz range in London.

“I think the fans have the same view: I can play sometimes good, sometimes not as good but the only thing I try to do is give everything. That’s what our fans want. They can forgive you if you miss a pass or make a mistake but as long as you give everything, that is what they want to watch.”

Herrera’s marriage of tenacity, talent and tactical awareness can be drawn from a football heritage which takes in Real Zaragoza and Athletic Bilbao – clubs who pride themselves in Spain as possessing as much heart and fight as they do ability. Two seasons spent under Marcelo Bielsa at San Mames also helped shape his understanding of the game plus honing a selfless attitude.

Up to his early 20s, Herrera was also a journalism student, indicating a knowledge beyond just being able to stop especially fast Belgian wingers from skipping around you.

A rounded and grounded individual who looks you sincerely in the eye when talking, he had learnt English before sealing his United move and is a genuine admirer of football culture in the British Isles.

With all this mixed together, it’s no surprise to hear him constantly in the discussion regarding the next United captain. Wayne Rooney has held that honour since 2014 but the striker’s alarming decline means Mourinho will almost certainly be looking for a new leader come August.

“I am very thankful for the people who think so… but I prefer to be careful with that,” he adds. “All the United captains have won everything for the club but I haven’t done yet. Hopefully one day I can. But to be honest I just want to keep playing and improving.”

Those captains include some of the most successful players in the club’s history – Bryan Robson, Roy Keane and Gary Neville – all players who you can see elements of in Herrera who, despite his modesty, has won four trophies – Europa League, FA Cup, League Cup and Community Shield – in just two seasons.

Exactly the sort of winning mentality that goes hand-in-hand with Mourinho, a manager who has encouraged him to develop his game and go beyond just being a ball-playing midfielder. The Portuguese’s faith runs in contrast to predecessor Louis van Gaal who, inexplicably, started him in just 17 Premier League matches in the season before his dismissal. Herrera, though, bears no ill-will to the Dutchman.

“When one manager is not here anymore I don’t think it is fair to talk about them,” he insists. “Mourinho is a winner – three trophies in his first season shows how he works and the way he is and I am really happy playing for him. Hopefully I can do it for a long time. I am going to learn, to experience the time with him and try to improve but I can be very thankful for all the managers I’ve had.”

That Europa League final victory over Ajax last month has given the Portuguese greater bargaining power in this summer’s transfer market as United look to become a genuine Premier League title-winning force again.

Antoine Griezmann may not be arriving but significant investment is sure to be made. Despite the likelihood of more changes to the XI, Herrera hopes his partnership in midfield with Paul Pogba is allowed to blossom.

“It is easy to play with him, he is a top player. He likes to attack more than me so when we both play together I have to protect the defence more,” he says. “I try to keep my position more because you know Paul has the ability to score; the ability to head, to shoot, to dribble – he has everything.

“I think we have a good partnership, hopefully we can play together for a long time and win trophies for the club.”

Herrera’s own future has been a matter for some conjecture, with Barcelona mentioned as a potential suitor given his status as a technically-adept and successful Spanish player yet to fully hit his ceiling.

Added to that is the recent arrival of his former Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde at the Nou Camp. Herrera, for the record, insists he has no plans of leaving United nor will talk of such possibility in the future. But he was still happy to outline just what Valverde will bring to the Blaugrana.

He adds: “He’s a very smart manager. He doesn’t have one style of football; he adapts himself to the players’ abilities. That’s the most important thing he has.

“Also, the way he treats people, the egos in the club and the team, is very important.

“I was with him for only one year but I really enjoyed it. He is very sincere, very transparent and I think he’s going to be very successful there.”

Herrera’s success story, though, will almost certainly remain in Manchester.